RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-02674 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His record be corrected to reflect he served in Vietnam for 113 days. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He was sent TDY at Tuy Hoa AFB South Vietnam for 113 days during the period 31 Jan 67 through 24 Apr 67. In support of his request, the applicant provides and AF Form 1098, Personnel Action Request, and a notarized supporting statement. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________ ______________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant’s military personnel records indicate that he enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 24 Mar 1965 and served until the date of his Honorable discharge on 23 Oct 1968. According to his DD Form 214, he was credited with one year, four months, and one day of foreign service and was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). The VSM was awarded to all service members between 4 Jul 65 and 28 Mar 73 who served in the following areas of Southeast Asia: Vietnam and the contiguous waters and airspace thereof; or Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the airspace thereof; for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of the Air Force, which is attached at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPAPP cannot verify the applicant was TDY to Vietnam, nor verify that the author of the supporting statement provided with his submission was assigned with him at Clark AFB or in Vietnam. While his records indicate he was sent TDY to Southeast Asia (SEA), his record does not indicate a specific location. However, if the applicant’s former section commander’s notarized letter is accepted as proof, then the applicant’s request for boots on the ground for Vietnam could be supported. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPAPP evaluation is at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 18 Nov 11 for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date, no response has been received by this office (Exhibit D). ________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations. 2. The application was not timely filed; however, it is in the interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file. 3. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice. We note the comments of the Air Force office of primary responsibility indicating they were unable to verify the applicant’s 113 days of deployed service to southeast asia was performed in the Republic of Vietnam; however, we believe the supporting statement rendered by the applicant’s former section commander and the other documentation provided provides a reasonable basis to conclude the applicant served in Vietnam as he contends. Therefore, we find the evidence provided is sufficient to resolve any doubt in favor of the applicant. In recognition of his service to the Nation, we recommend the applicant’s records be corrected as indicated below. ________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show that he had boots on the ground in Tuy Hoa Air Base, Vietnam, from 31 January 1967 through 24 April 1967. ________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2011-02674 in Executive Session on 2 Feb 12, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 12 Jul 11, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPAPP, dated 7 Nov 11. Exhibit D. Letter, AFBCMR, dated 18 Nov 11. Panel Chair